Bible Strands
Job 1:15
the Sabeans swooped down and took them away. They put the servants to the sword, and I alone have escaped to tell you!”
Berean Standard Bible
Follow its threads on the canvas →
Study note
Setting — A fleeing servant reports to Job about the destruction of his livestock and staff. The messenger delivers this account immediately after describing the first raid and just before reporting a second catastrophe.
The words — The Hebrew תִּפֹּ֤ל (ti.Pol) means "it fell" or "swooped down," while הִכּ֣וּ לְ/פִי\־ חָ֑רֶב (hi.Ku le./fi Cha.rev) literally renders "they struck to the mouth of the sword." These terms describe the violent action of the Sabeans (שְׁבָא֙, she.Va') as they seize the property and kill the attendants.
The thread — The name Sabeans connects to the descendants of Cush and Raamah listed in Genesis 10:7 and Genesis 10:28. Job later references travelers from Sheba in Job 6:19 as a metaphor for abandoned hope.
Why it lands — The text demands recognition of sudden, unexplained loss without attributing it to immediate moral cause. It requires the reader to sit with the reality of unmerited suffering while awaiting further revelation.
Drafted by a language model from the text, its original words and its cross-references, then checked against them. It can still be wrong: open the verse in the app to report it.
The Hebrew words
King James Version
And the Sabeans fell upon them, and took them away; yea, they have slain the servants with the edge of the sword; and I only am escaped alone to tell thee.
Cross-references
- Genesis 10:7 The sons of Cush: Seba, Havilah, Sabtah, Raamah, and Sabteca. And the sons of Raamah: Sheba and Dedan.
- Job 6:19 The caravans of Tema look for water; the travelers of Sheba hope to find it.
- Genesis 10:28 Obal, Abimael, Sheba,
- Genesis 25:3 Jokshan was the father of Sheba and Dedan. And the sons of Dedan were the Asshurites, the Letushites, and the Leummites.
- 1 Samuel 22:20 But one of the sons of Ahimelech son of Ahitub escaped. His name was Abiathar, and he fled to David.
- Job 1:16 While he was still speaking, another messenger came and reported: “The fire of God fell from heaven. It burned and consumed the sheep and the servants, and I alone have escaped to tell you!”
- Job 1:19 when suddenly a mighty wind swept in from the desert and struck the four corners of the house. It collapsed on the young people and they are dead, and I alone have escaped to tell you!”
- Psalms 72:10 May the kings of Tarshish and distant shores bring tribute; may the kings of Sheba and Seba offer gifts.
- Isaiah 45:14 This is what the LORD says: “The products of Egypt and the merchandise of Cush, along with the Sabeans, men of stature, will come over to you and will be yours; they will trudge behind you; they will come over in chains and bow down to you. They will confess to you: ‘God is indeed with you, and there is no other; there is no other God.’”
- Ezekiel 23:42 accompanied by the sound of a carefree crowd. Drunkards were brought in from the desert along with men from the rabble, who put bracelets on your wrists and beautiful crowns on your head.